People Reveal Signs That A Relationship Is On The Verge Of Failure


Pay attention to the red flags! They are there!

Love is so grand and resplendent. We spend so much of our lives chasing it and we can become obsessed movies and literature that tell us where and how to find it. But rarely do realize that love is the most imperfect of emotions and that love stories take work in order to not derail. We have to be self aware enough to know that every relationship needs help. There are always signals along the way telling us when story is crumbling. Too often we opt not to pay attention.

Redditor u/TeamDodgy wanted know what signs will arise to warn that the love story is waning by asking.... What are signs a relationship is about to fail?

The Horsemen Approacheth.....


Dr. Gottman studied this for 20+ years.

He determined that criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling are the four strongest signs.

This was true even during interviews with couples that did not argue and attempted to "put on a good face" during the interview process.

He called this "the four horsemen." pittsburgg

Be Louder! 

When you don't even bother arguing anymore cause its not worth the effort. CCHTweaked

It would be a hell of a lot of work to come back from - because at that point, at least one partner in the couple has lost the motivation/desire to recover, even if they are afraid to lose their SO. If any couple comes back - and I mean truly back to an open ground of talking about uncomfortable and painful things and actually going through disputes with the goal of being together - then that couple deserves each other and are stronger than probably most people in interpersonal relationships. ClassyEmu

Don't be so curt....

Not wanting to spend time with you, no communication between the two of you (Short answers from her for example) And just a change of attitude in general towards you.

I've been there a few times. jamie9000000


Essentially, if one or both is highly critical of the other, there's a defensiveness which shuts down all meaningful communication in the relationship - this can be immediate, or slowly over time. It leads to one/both hating the other (contempt) either spoken or not.

The worst couples never fought at all; to avoid confrontation, they froze all meaningful communication and were mostly silent to each other. This is known as stonewalling.

I've been there, and it is NOT pretty. The worst part was that I loved this person and she wasn't always critical - but oh boy, could she be critical! pittsburgg

Private Thoughts....


I would say "Asking yourself if your relationship is about to fail" is a pretty big sign your relationship is in the process of failing. Numinae

Just Leave! 

Dreading them. Absolutely dreading them. Their laugh, their jokes, having sex. If you avoid them, if they avoid you.

Telling yourself that the next time he/she does something bad that you're going to break up with them, and when that bad thing doesn't happen you freeze and you don't do anything.

Wishing they would leave you alone, loving it when you finally get one day to yourself.

When your friends don't understand where you're coming from, further propelling you into the relationship where you think you're the bad guy for thinking something is wrong. Them telling you you can't have same sex friends. Them going through your phone. BumbleBlooze

What's App?

When she says she is going to sleep and you see her Whatsapp status watching movie on your friend's mobile which is hidden to you

Lmao ಠ╭╮ಠ ZampyaMaster007

I'm sorry she hurt you like that bro... CatndOstrich

The Tells....

Syrupy sweet Facebook statuses about one another.

That's a good "tell."

Happy publicly = often miserable privately.

No publicity = often happy privately.

Good podcast about this:

Hidden Brain: When It Comes To Our Lives On Social Media, 'There's Always Another Story'



Spoiler alert: public Facebook statuses are for looking happy and successful. The real story is told in private messages.

Video: Instagram Husband gotthelowdown

The 2 Way Street....

When one or both stop being thankful about things because they think they "deserve" that thing. You know, the mentality that says "that's what he/she is supposed to do anyway."

Yes, you deserve to be taken care of, but let your SO know that you appreciate him/her. If you don't appreciate them, the things they do will slowly feel like a chore to them, and they'll get tired of doing it. Yes, you are supposed to be respected, but let them know you're thankful for the respect they show you.

The Definition of Insanity....


When you keep having the same fight. You talk it out, promise each other changes, and everything is great for a little while. But then one or both of you slips back into an old pattern and you're back at the fight a month or two later. And it goes on like this for a while until each time it gets harder to talk it out. magikot

I Hate You! 

Feeling contempt for your significant other. When you're looking at the person you're supposed to love with disdain or resentment, then it's time for the relationship to end. let_them_eat_kale

Talk to the Hand! 

Not communicating with each other. Getting angry whenever your partner tries to get you to talk problems out. thehumblehorror

Oh Well....


When one person in the relationship really stops caring about what the other side person is doing. totspur1982

Every. Little. Thing. 

Arguing over every little thing. xxwatchmerun

You see my partner and I were like this, we used to argue over everything. Stress and lack of communication made us turn on each other. If you're a couple and find yourselves arguing continually over every little thing then try find the reason why. I see it too often in today's gen that giving up in relationships is easier than working through the hardships. If there's mutual love and respect hard work will make a relationship. There were times I though sack this this isn't how I want to live my life but I'm glad I committed to working on us. We made it through and we never gave up. Relationships are hard. Every experience is different, I'm just hoping to reach out to those who feel arguing (to an extent of course) might not be normal or means the relationship must be over. dippyhippy_

Good Grief.

Seeing his name come up on the phone and thinking 'good grief, what does he want now?'

The End! 

When you put your arm around her shoulder at Endgame and she says "could you not." because she's still mad about a little crappy argument about her Mom the night before. FultonHomes

I'll do Me. 

When you start avoiding communication with your S.O.

When the sound of your text notification makes you sigh or strikes fear because it might be your S.O. When you start to make plans just so that you have an excuse to be away from your S.O. When you start avoiding communication with your S.O. kitskill

No Interest. 

When he / she doesn't seem to be interested in what you have to say and then they go out with friends more. If they don't seem as happy as when you first got together then it may be close. Its hard to tell. Disfigured_Doughnut

Where'd you go?


When you're physically in the same room together, yet it feels as though the other person isn't there - that their thoughts and emotions are elsewhere. Back2Bach

It's Just Over. 

The signs are different in every relationship but a simple thing to look for is, if this person wasn't attached to your identity as in this is so and so my gf/bf. If they weren't linked with you in that sense or having sex with you, would you be friends with them? If the answer is no then the relationship is over. Sarpanitu


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